Steve Stricker supports Tiger Woods selection for President’s Cup while lashes out Greg Norman
The mudslinging between the American and the International teams continues ahead of the coveted President’s Cup scheduled in the second week of November. After Tiger Woods controversial selection by the Captain Fred Couples, not only many of the golf critics
have criticized the decision but some of the renowned players have also expressed their dislike of the decision including Geoff Ogilvy, International team Captain Greg Norman and Woods former coach Butch Harmon.
Both camps have been trying to justify their teammate’s selection and Steve Stricker is probably the most recent one who lauded Couples’ decision to pick Woods as his personal choice. Speaking to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Stricker, also part of the
12-member squad who will battle for the ultimate triumph at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club, said that Woods is excited about the Match-Play event and has done enough preparations to silence his critics.
“I talk to Tiger through texting every now and then. He’s really excited. We’re looking forward to it. I think he’ll be ready, too,” Stricker said. “He’ll find a way to get it done. When you play him one on one, he’ll find a way. He loves match play.”
Stricker is currently the highest ranked American player after Dustin Johnson and is ranked number five on the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR). Having won twice on PGA Tour this year, Stricker also pulled in a stellar 3-peat at John Deere Classic at
TPC John Deere, defending his title for the third consecutive times. Later in the season, Stricker missed out a few events due to his neck injury and had to undergo extended rehab to recover.
Stricker also lamented Norman’s diatribe where the Great White had come out lashing at Woods and said that the former number one will not be able to win a single major in times ahead let alone breaking the record of Jack Nicklaus’s 18-major titles.
“I don’t know why Greg said what he did. He did basically the same thing with Adam Scott a couple years ago when Adam wasn’t playing well,” he said. “It kind of turned Adam’s game around. So I don’t know where that came from.”
The event has already attracted attention of golf fans and the showdown between the American and International teams is all set to lure in huge crowds. There were also players on the International team who have lauded Couples brave decision to induct Woods
on one of the two slots of his choice. Top ranked International player Jason Day also supported Woods induction and hoped it will be the turning point of his swirling career. Woods has not won a single title for the last almost three years and has fallen out
of the top-50 on the OWGR for the first time in 15 years. President’s Cup is scheduled to start from November 14.
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